No new govt liquor shop this year: CM

As per the new policy, which does not have any major changes, the rates of liquor will remain unchanged. In fact, rates have not been hiked in the last three years. Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia told reporters the process to decide on shifting a shop to another area, with prior approval, will be initiated once 10 per cent voters of a mohalla sabha submit a written complaint in this regard.

The city has around 380 government-run liquor shops (L6) while 87 are run privately (L7). New licences have not been issued in the last 10 years. The restrictions will cover L6 and L7 shops although L10 licences for shops in malls will be granted.

Sisodia, who addressed a press conference Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, said that owners and managers of liquor vends would be acted against, to the extent of cancellation of licenses if there are reports of nuisance in the vicinity of their stores.

“Many people are troubled by liquor vends in their localities as people drink publicly and create nuisance. Women feel unsafe to venture out as they feel unsafe in such an environment. So we have taken these two decisions,” Kejriwal said.

The decision came amid a campaign by Swaraj Abhiyan, led by Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan, against “proliferation” of liquor vends in the city. It has claimed that “58” liquor vends have come up in the city since last February.

Sisodia said that once the written complaint comes, a meeting of the mohalla sabha will be called in which quorum (minimum presence required) will have to be 15 per cent of the total number of voters of that area including at least 33 per cent women.

“If two-third members present in a meeting decide to shut down a shop then it will have to be shifted. But even then, the members of the area where it is to be shifted will have to approve any such move,” he said.

The Delhi government approved the formation of 2,972 mohalla sabhas in June, describing it as a step towards strengthening local governance.